Make insurance changes during Benefit Choice through June 1

UIC employees can change health and dental plans and enroll in flexible spending accounts through June 1 during the Benefit Choice period.

All employee and dependent health, dental and life insurance remain unchanged for full-time employees from the current plan year, which ends June 30. The employer portions of the premiums are expected to increase, which would likely mean costs will rise for part-time employees. Rates are posted on NESSIE, the university’s human resources website.

Employees can view plan information and make changes through NESSIE. All changes will be effective July 1.

“Employees should look into changing their plan if they made a hasty decision on enrolling in a health plan or if they were defaulted into a plan,” said Verna Chatman, benefits customer service supervisor. “Don’t want until the last minute to make changes.”

Employees who have questions about their options can visit information booths from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 20 in the hospital lobby and May 22 outside the UIC Bookstore in Student Center East.

“We can help employees determine which plan is their preference,” Chatman said.

The annual combined out-of-pocket maximums for Tier I and Tier II options in the Open Access Plan have increased by $350 to $6,600 for individuals. Family maximum increases by $450 to $13,200.

Employees who want to participate in a flexible spending account must re-enroll each year, Chatman said. Maximums for flexible spending accounts increase by $50 this year for a total of $2,550.

Employees with dependents covered by their plan are expected to undergo a dependent eligibility verification audit in the fall by Central Management Services. Employees may be asked to provide documents for their dependents, such as birth certificates and marriage licenses.

All changes during the Benefit Choice period — the only time employees can make adjustments without qualifying events such as childbirth or marriage — must be made through NESSIE.

For more information, check the Benefit Choice booklet online, call 312-996-6471 or visit the Benefit Service Center, 809 S. Marshfield Ave. Walk-in appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.